Outboard Motor Segmentation for Compact Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Relatively small outboard motors are bulky, making them difficult to transport and mount on boats due to their long vertical length, which also increases storage space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An outboard motor design featuring a detachable power source and driven unit connected via an interlock mechanism, allowing for separate handling and storage, with an optional rubber shock absorber to minimize vibration and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the outboard motor is designed with a long vertical length to accommodate the power source and driven unit, then the motor can accommodate all necessary components, but the motor becomes bulky and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The outboard motor is divided into two separable units: a power source unit (containing the engine or motor) and a driven unit (containing the drive shaft and propeller). These units can be detached from each other through an interlock mechanism, allowing the driven unit to be stored separately on the boat while the power source unit can be stored in a vehicle, thereby reducing the storage space required for the complete motor assembly.
2Device complexity
If the outboard motor is designed with a long vertical length, then all components can be accommodated, but the motor becomes difficult to mount on the boat
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the motor into a power source unit and a driven unit that can be independently mounted on the boat, the mounting process becomes simpler. The driven unit can be first mounted on the boat's transom, and then the power source unit is attached to it, making the overall mounting process more manageable compared to handling a single long vertical assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
An interlock mechanism serves as an intermediary connection between the power source unit and the driven unit. This mechanism facilitates easy attachment and detachment of the units while ensuring proper alignment and secure connection, thereby simplifying the mounting operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the outboard motor is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but the motor occupies excessive storage space in vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is segmented into detachable units that can be separated for storage in vehicles. The driven unit (lighter and more compact) can be stored on the boat, while the power source unit (engine or motor) can be stored in a vehicle, significantly reducing the storage space requirement compared to transporting the complete integrated motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of the motor assembly. The units can be connected when needed for operation and detached for storage, allowing the system to transition between an integrated operational state and a separated storage state, thereby optimizing both structural integrity during operation and storage efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat, comprising a power source and a driven unit including a drive shaft connected to the power source and a propeller connected to the drive shaft through a gear mechanism, wherein the power source is detachably connected to the driven unit through an interlock unit, i.e., the outboard motor can be separated into a power unit housing the power source and the driven unit. Owing to this configuration, it becomes possible to provide the outboard motor that is improved in transportability or portability, can be easily mounted on a boat, and minimizes the amount of space required for storage.